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2024-11-07-accounts

THE FERTILITY ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT DECEMBER 2023- NOVEMBER 2024

CONTENTS

1. Reference & Administrative Information

2. Structure, Governance & Management

3. Our Mission & Objectives

4. Chair Report

5. Operating Highlights

6. Financial Review

7. Trustee Responsibilities

8. Annual Accounts

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

1. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity name The Fertility Alliance
Charity number (England and
Wales)		 1206323
Scottish charity number SC053407
Governing Document Constitution 2023
Registered office 5 Brayford Square
London
E1 0SG
Bank Lloyds Bank
25 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HN

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

2. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

The charity is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation and is therefore governed by the constitution. The number of Trustees shall not be less than 3 and not more than 12. The charity trustees may not appoint any other charity trustee if as a result the number would exceed the maximum. The Board meets quarterly and as necessary. The Trustees, who served during the year, were:

Angela Pericleous-Smith Appointed 23/12/23 Anya Sizer Appointed 23/12/23 Professor Abha Maheshwari Appointed 21/12/23 Professor Tim Child Chair Appointed 05/01/24 Raj Mathur Appointed 02/05/24

Professor Tim Child

Tim is an Associate Professor of Reproductive Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford.

He became an HFEA member in January 2021 and Chairs the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC). Tim was a member of the 2013 NICE Fertility Guidelines Group. He is co-author of the UK’s highest selling Obs and Gynae textbook and has published over 100 research papers and chapters. Tim is a firm believer in Evidence Based Medicine and has undertaken many trials assessing assisted conception interventions.

Professor Abha Maheshwari

Professor Abha Maheshwari is the lead consultant for Reproductive Medicine and Surgery in Aberdeen Fertility Centre.

Being Person Responsible and laboratory director, she is fully aware of clinical and legislative practices as well as challenges facing fertility treatments. She has been part of a number of subcommittees working on Scottish Guidance on various aspects of fertility over the years.

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

Nationally she is a panel member for licence centres in HFEA and Andrology special interest Group of British Fertility Society. She is also subspecialty training supervisor for RCOG accredited subspeciality training in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery as well as trainer for multiple training modules for British Fertility Society. She is a strong advocate for research and research being lead and delivered in clinical setting to improve patient care.

She is also Clinical lead for Reproductive Health and Childbirth for National Research Scotland after having had personal fellowships from Chief Scientist Office for working on safety and efficacy of Assisted Reproduction. She has published extensively in the field both primary and secondary research and given talks nationally and internationally.

Angela Pericleous-Smith

Angela is Chair of the British Infertility Counselling Association working as a counsellor with over 20 years ’experience and specialising in fertility counselling since 2004 when she joined Leeds Fertility alongside her Private counselling and supervision practise in York. Previously, working with one-parent families, survivors of rape and abuse and as a Children’s counsellor for the NSPCC. alongside her private counselling and supervision practise in York.

Angela is a member of British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and an Accredited member of BICA. Currently she is a Trainer with the BICA Training Group providing training to other fertility counsellors to promote high standards of fertility counselling and is Deputy Chair of the BICA Accreditation Board. Angela has co-authored BICA Guidelines for Good Practice in Fertility Counselling 4th Ed. 2019.

Angela is Chair of the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA), Counsellor representative for British Fertility Society (BFS) and a Trustee for the Fertility Alliance, she has specialised in fertility counselling since 2004 working both within the NHS, private fertility clinics and in private practice since 2004.

Angela has written and spoken about the emotional impact of infertility and has co-authored BICA Guidelines for Good Practice in Fertility Counselling 4th Ed. 2019 and Counselling in Surrogacy in UK Licensed Centres (2021). Other research and writing have focused on Covid-19’s impact on UK counselling provision and patients’ experiences, The emotional, physical and psychological impact of infertility in the workplace and Counselling challenges associated with donor conception and surrogacy.

Angela is driven to improve professional standards in fertility counselling; the psychological support, provision and accessibility of information and fair treatment for patients.

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

Anya Sizer

Anya has been a prolific campaigner for fair IVF treatment on the NHS . She has spent the last fifteen years working in fertility and IVF support . Anya was appointed as and HFEA Authority Member in October 2024.

Anya has delivered many talks/presentations throughout the UK to organisations such as BICA, BFS, NHS, HFEA and Adoption UK. As a mum of three through IVF and adoption, Anya’s experience of fertility spans first-hand experience and professional life. Anya is the author of ‘Fertile Thinking ’and is an Executive Committee Member for Fabian Women’s network .

Raj Mathur

Raj is a reproductive medicine specialist working in a large NHS fertility service based in Saint Mary’s Hospital Manchester and is also Senior Consultant at Manchester Fertility. He has been in the field of fertility for over 25 years and has led NHS fertility services in Manchester and Cambridge. Between 2021 and 2024 Raj chaired the British Fertility Society, which represents professionals working in this field in the UK. He has been an advisor to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Raj’s interests are in ensuring equitable access to fertility treatment in the NHS and reducing the risks associated with IVF. He has published several original research papers and book chapters and is the lead author of national guidelines on prevention and management of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. He is a member of the NICE guideline committee tasked with developing guidance to support the care of people with fertility problems. He is active in public engagement and advocacy for improved NHS fertility care.

Our Patron – Allan Pacey

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

We are delighted Professor Allan Pacey is our founding Patron at the Fertility Alliance.

Allan recently joined the University of Manchester where he is the Deputy Vice President and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. He is also Professor of Andrology and has published over 200 research papers, book chapters and review articles.

He is a former Secretary (2005-2010) and Chairman (2012-2015) of the British Fertility Society and former Editor in Chief of the BFS journal Human Fertility (2015-2022). In addition, Allan is an accomplished science communicator and broadcaster. Recent television programmes include Me, My Brother and our Balls (2020), Alex Jones – Fertility and Me (2016), Britain’s Secret Code Breaker (2011), Donor Unknown (2011), The Great Sperm Race (2009), The Truth About Food (2007), Make me a Baby (2007) and Lab Rats (2004).

Awards include, a Fellowship ad eundem of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2014) in recognition of contributions to the speciality and the Wellbeing of Women, an MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to Reproductive Medicine (2016), and Honorary (lifetime) Fellowship from the British Fertility Society (2023).

Our Advisory Board

Professor Adam Balen Marta Jansa Perez Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya Victoria Macdonald Natalie Gamble Jane Plumb Professor Nicky Hudson Anthony Ribb Professor Jackson-Kirkman-Brown Tracey Sainsbury Maria Satchi Francesca Steyn

– For further information about our Advisory Board - Our Advisory Board The Fertility Alliance

Co-Founder Kate Brian

Kate is an author and journalist who has been working in the fertility sector for more than 25 years. Kate is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists where she was the first Women’s Voices Lead.

Kate was a lay member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority where she chaired the Licence Committee and continued to work with the Authority as a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee. Kate is a member of the NICE fertility guideline update group and also sat on the previous NICE fertility guideline development group.

Kate has written five books about fertility, IVF treatment and pregnancy, and presented two Radio Four documentaries about donor treatment.

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

Chief Executive, Gwenda Burns

The Chief Executive is appointed by the Board of Trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity and has overall responsibility for managing the charity’s operations and employees.

3. OUR MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

The Fertility Alliance is a national charity focused on providing fertility information, education and support, taking a life course approach.

We support and educate everyone who wants to know more about their fertility, including the 3.5 million people currently facing fertility issues. Our broad range of programmes and activities will deliver education, wellbeing support, digital innovation, knowledge and guidance about all aspects of fertility. We will work with our partners to ensure the public and stakeholders are at the centre of designing services which are fit for purpose.

We bring together and champion the expertise of people with lived experience, the third sector, and organisations across fertility and reproductive health to inform policy, practice and service delivery. We aim to ensure fair and equitable access to information, to fertility care and to treatment. Together our voice is stronger, and we will use it to promote meaningful change.

The charity’s objectives are subject to review each year to ensure it continues to deliver value to the individuals, couples, communities, and entities it supports.

We aim to:

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

Our Values are simple:

4. CHAIR REPORT

The Fertility Alliance: Reflecting on Our First Year

It is with immense pride and gratitude that I present the Chair’s Report for The Fertility Alliance’s first annual accounts. This year has been one of foundation, growth, and unwavering commitment to our mission of supporting people on their fertility journey.

Our Achievement Highlights

Over the past year, The Fertility Alliance has established itself as a beacon of hope and support for people navigating the often complex and emotional terrain of fertility. Among our key achievements are:

We officially registered with the Charity Commission on the 21[st ] of December 2023 and launched as a national charity in the UK in June 2024, with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility for all who need fertility support. We officially registered a branch in Scotland with OSCR in April 2024

Recognising the unique challenges fertility issues can bring, we engaged with the community to understand their specific needs and how we can better support them.

We have connected with people at all stages of the path through tests and treatment, offering resources and advocacy to ensure their voices are heard and their journeys supported.

Through partnerships we have worked to de-stigmatise fertility issues and advocate for improved access to support services. We have delivered more than 20 presentations to professionals.

We gained candidate membership with Fertility Europe. We joined the Maternal Mental Health Alliance local affiliate pilot and the HFEA’s Patient Organisation Stakeholder Group (POSG)

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

Financial Overview

We are committed to prudent financial management and transparency. As a newly established charity, we are committed to diversifying funding streams and allocating resources effectively to maximise impact for our community.

Looking Ahead

While we are proud of our accomplishments within our first year, we have much more to accomplish. In the coming year, we aim to:

  1. Expand our reach and support throughout the UK including underrepresented communities.

  2. Develop targeted programs based on the insights gained from our focus groups and consultations.

  3. Strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers, clinic staff teams, professionals, policymakers, and other charities to amplify our impact.

  4. Increase fundraising efforts to support the growing demand for our services.

  5. Ensure we increase our visibility and our mission to support individuals and communities in navigating fertility issues by attending conferences and events.

Our initial achievements this year would not have been possible without the dedication of our team, volunteers, partners, and supporters. Your belief in our mission has been the cornerstone of our success in our first year.

As we reflect on this foundational year, we are energised and inspired to continue our journey, supporting those who seek to build families and creating a more inclusive, compassionate approach. Thank you for your continued support.

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

5. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS

We are passionate about putting the patient perspective at the heart of every discussion about fertility. We ensure our team members are equipped with the skills and knowledge required, including receiving trauma informed training when joining the charity.

In the six months since we launched, we've given more than 20 talks to audiences of up to 600 professionals including doctors, nurses, embryologists, counsellors and health care assistants at conferences and events, and we have run workshops and facilitated discussions.

We have visited fertility clinics around the UK to discuss ways of improving patient support.

We have developed a People's Panel of those with lived experience which is open to anyone who'd like to help us in our mission to ensure patient views are listened to. We are turning to the Panel more and more as we grow and develop, so we can work together to ensure better care for everyone in the future.

Social media

We established our Social Media sites which have been growing organically over the past 6 months:

View the webinar series - The Fertility Alliance - YouTube

Research

People’s Panel

We established a people’s panel which is growing in numbers and have representatives from ethnic minority groups, men and the LBGTQ+ community. Our intention is to widen the demographics of the group in the coming year.

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

Our panel:

Over the last 6 months we consulted the People’s Panel on a variety of subjects.

Survey

We carried out a snapshot survey to mark World Infertility Awareness Month which found delays at every stage of the fertility journey which are having an impact on wellbeing and mental health, with some patients describing the waiting as “torture”.

The survey found people were facing lengthy waits to be referred for specialist care, tests and procedures before treatment and for treatment itself.

Respondents reported an impact on their mental health, causing stress and anxiety, and financial pressures of funding private treatment.

The main findings:

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

Chair of the British Fertility Society, Kevin McEleny, commented on the findings “ This survey by the newly launched Fertility Alliance demonstrates the barriers that people face when seeking help for fertility issues. It is vital that commissioners and providers recognise the emotional and financial toll that delays can place on patients who need fertility treatments, and we call on the NICE recommendations for fertility treatment to be implemented across the entire UK.”

Support

Since the charity has been registered in December 2023, the team have been supporting many individuals via email and telephone. We provide a range of services to address emotional and informational and support needs.

In the Autumn of 2024, we recruited a volunteer who is now running a monthly online support group. We also introduced the book club, which is open to patients and professionals with a guest author participating and answering questions. We developed and disseminated a monthly newsletter to our beneficiaries and professional networks to keep them regularly updated on our activities.

We collate regular feedback from our group and events:

“Very well hosted. A lot more effective than I thought it would be.”

“Was so nice to feel supported in a safe space to share vulnerable feelings”

“ Thank you for hosting tonight's session. I felt seen when I read the book but again tonight I have had that same feeling, so thank you again.”

During 2024 the team represented patients on several on ICB review groups, meetings and at the National Fertility Group in Scotland.

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

We were delighted to welcome Jonathan Luwagga to the Fertility Alliance in the role as a Peer Advocate for the charity, which involves being a voice for male patients.

We have produced 16 information videos since our launch in June. Our most popular videos are Endometriosis (177 views)

PCOS awareness (93 views) Lived Experience of egg freezing (49 views)

We will expand our support services during 2025 with an additional focus on Health and Wellbeing.

Events/Meetings

During the course of the last six months, we have attended and spoken at more than 20 events on a variety of subjects. We have also attended numerous meetings over this period. Some of these have included:

Fertility Scotland Network Seminar Medical Education Academy Biomedical Innovation in the Hope Market event Nurses Workshop BFS Executive Meeting Fertility Preservation Group Fertility Awareness HFEA 100th birthday of Mary Warnock MATEX 10-year celebration Fertility Europe EuMAR

BFS Study Week National Fertility Group Masterclass for professional Conway House LWC Bristol workshop Aberystwyth University Fertility Europe EFW2024 Wythenshawe Quarterly MNVP Meeting Westminster – Launch of RCOG report PET celebration of Bio News

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

We were delighted to attend the premiere at the British Film Institute Film Festival of Joy. It is the story of Bob Edward, Partrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy and how their pioneering work led to the birth of the first IVF baby Louise Joy Brown.

Fertility Week

During National Fertility Awareness week, we joined forces with other charities (CHANA, Verity and BICA) and stakeholders to raise awareness and provide support to all those struggling with fertility problems. We shared videos, visuals, posts and tweets to engage with our social media community and extend our reach.

Media

We participated in several radio interviews, submitted requested quotes for national papers, wrote an article for the BICA Journal, the Guild of Health writers newsletter and the BFS newsletter. We will continue to grow our media contacts and coverage over the next year, highlighting issues that impact our beneficiaries.

General

The Fertility Alliance will continue to work in close collaboration with the regulator of the UK fertility industry, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). We will continue working with British Fertility Society, European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (ESHRE), British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA), Fertility Europe, Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG), Senior Infertility Nurse Group (SING) and other stakeholders.

As The Fertility Alliance, we are thrilled to celebrate the start of our second year as a charity. Over the past year, we have been honoured to support people on their fertility journeys, fostering hope and delivering compassionate care. From partnering with leading specialists, we have worked diligently to make a meaningful impact. As we look ahead, we are committed to building on these foundations, strengthening our alliances, and continuing to provide unparalleled support to those navigating fertility challenges.

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

6. FINANCIAL REVIEW

Over the next year we will look at income diversification initiatives. We continue to be extremely grateful for the support of all those individuals who have kindly donated to us and organisations that have supported us. We look forward to a new year and to kick it off we have successfully secured a grant from The Scottish Government with a further two submitted applications outstanding.

7. OUR TRUSTEES & TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

Trustee Responsibilities

Our trustees are the people that have overall oversight of the charity. They are not involved in running the charity on a day-to-day basis but collectively make decisions about the approach the charity will take and its future direction. They make sure that we have the policies and procedures needed to show we’re complying with our legal obligations. They provide support, ideas and constructive challenge to our team to help the charity to achieve the best it can for our beneficiaries and demonstrate the difference that we make.

The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

As the annual income of The Fertility Alliance falls below the threshold of £25,000, the charity is not required to have its accounts independently examined under the Charities Act 2011. These accounts have been prepared by the trustees and the Chief Executive in accordance with the charity’s governing document and relevant financial reporting standards.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees

Date:

__25 February 2025__

The Fertility Alliance – Annual Report 2023/24

  1. Annual Accounts Financial Statement The Fertility Alliance For the period 21 December 2023 to 7 November 2024 Income Donatmjn SJ94.87 8994A7 Gross Profit 5J94A7 5.994A7 Ex nditure on Ch•rft•bleArtivities Cenec31 EApenses 12.75 J2.75 346.49 20.75 20.75 p￿nts￿& Slat 26 26. Trmt. 104.05 104.05 J7& 576AO Operating Profit 1&39 SMI&Jg The Fertility ￿liar￿-Ann￿al Report 2023124

Balance Sheet The FertilityAlliance As at 7 November2024 7MryIOX ThtFortilityfvJk I,061.71 CuryentA5Xts counts 4.450. 4hSO. T<AC￿l￿dN1A￿tt 5JILn Ll•bIll￿¢S Curr•rtU•blllths k<ount5 PaYa￿e L59A8 60.16 159.4• 60.16 TrtaiLla1411tK•i LJ9.41 NetAssets 5J5224 CurrerstYèi Ea￿$ Rel*￿d Earnin 5,535ts9 1183.651 5J5224 J.A61 Tot•lEqytty The Fertility ￿liar￿-Ann￿al Report 2023124